The Party Balloon Popped
Pacific v
London Fields
at
London Fields
Sun 21-Sep-2014 at 12.30pm
Won 123 Runs
Friendly fixture

A massive win for Pacific at London Fields thanks to contributions from every one of a very strong XI. Key stats include Luke’s 100, Nuggsy’s 2-7 off 8 and a £20,000 lottery win for Sheldon’s mum.

After being put in to bat Ireland and Toby strode out to the stodgy wicket and both were undone early by the extremely slow bounce. Webbo and Luke stabilised and put on a very useful 62 partnership and Luke continued on to make a chanceless 100, regularly dispatching Fields’ gentle bowling into the parklife enjoying the game. Kieran, Riz and Sheldon all made quick-fire contributions helping us up to a formidable 253 off 40 overs – a great total on a difficult pitch.

Sunday’s tea will go down in history as a triumph against the odds. Despite no pavilion and no food provided by the home team, Pacific summoned up a bread-heavy feast fit for cricketing royalty.

Appetisers

-Giant Turkish loaf and hummus

Mains

-Steak and crusty bread with Paul’s homemade Piri Piri sauce

-Jon Webley’s traditional cheese sandwiches

Dessert

-Kieran cake

-Brioche de Rizwan

-McVities Jaffa Cakes

Nuggsy opened up with a vintage spell, using the battered pitch to prize out two of their top order and ending his eight overs with an economy rate like a Peugeot 308 HDi, What Car magazine’s Most Economical Car 2014. At the other end Sheldon bowled with his usual urgency but the batsmen were already in survival mode and he couldn't break through their defence.

Throughout the day a 5th birthday party at long on and some classic disco tracks from the nearby pub added to the atmosphere. A giant helium-filled number five floated over the batsmen’s head, Kieran chased a two year old off the pitch and Aroon was out-boxed by a pink balloon.

A change bought Ahmed to the crease, and he bowled well and took two wickets – one of which saw Aroon take a beauty running in from long off and sliding to catch it low. Paul also bowled well again, taking two and setting the scene for another stunning bit of fielding from Aroon - who slid to block the ball with his leg like a centre-back then threw down the stumps as the batsman aborted a quick single.

From here Fields truly shut up shop and seemed to want to bat the game out, despite it being limited overs and the draw not being an option. Good spells from Riz, Aroon, and Ireland couldn’t prize out their tail-enders who blocked out the last 20 overs, but we still won by a thumping 123-run margin.

It was an all-star Pacific XI and it was a shame the Fields were lacking some of their own stars who may have created a more even contest. A quick pint in The Pub On The Park turned into three or four as the lads celebrated the news that Sheldon’s mum had just won £20k on the lottery.